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Chris Higgins
Inside Oliver Sacks’s Brain (As He Listens to Music)
by Chris Higgins - November 17, 2009 - 2:52 PM

Neurologist Oliver Sacks prefers Bach to Beethoven — I’m just the opposite. But enough about me, let’s talk Sacks. Dr. Sacks volunteered to have his brain scanned while listening to each composer’s music. What’s interesting is that listening to Bach has a visible effect on his brain, which isn’t present when listening to Beethoven — more regions of the brain “light up” to demonstrate his engagement with the Bach. What’s particularly remarkable is that even when Sacks doesn’t consciously know which composer he’s listening to, his brain still prefers Bach and activates just as it does with the known-to-be-Bach pieces (as seen on a brain scan) when listening. Watching the fascinating video below for a clip from NOVA’s “Musical Minds” show, which first aired last year. After the jump, you can watch the whole NOVA episode (in six pieces, but it should auto-play through) on YouTube.

The Entire Program

You can also go here to view this “playlist” with the program in six parts. (Note: for some reason, part 5 wouldn’t play for me in the US. Oh well, it’s most of the program, anyway.)

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Comments (4)

  1. That is so weird that the brain can tell which composer wrote the music. I personnally perfer Mozart.

    posted by Phil on 11-17-2009 at 4:27 pm

  2. Actually, this isn’t all that surprising. Bach was VERY methodical and mathematical in his approach to music. Beethoven on the other hand was more emotional, especially in his later years. He had a tendency to lean more toward the Romantic and to some early extent, the enlightenment, periods. It makes perfect sense why a doctor – methodical and scientific – would prefer and be inclined toward Bach.

    posted by Justin L on 11-17-2009 at 5:02 pm

  3. I think it is silly.

    The brain could not tell that Bach was the composer. LOL Hopefully, they are only pulling our leg when they say that.

    Bach’s chorales are unprecedented, whereas, that was not Beethoven’s strong point, although he had others, for sure.

    Dr. Sack clearly preferred and concurred that Bach holds this acclaim correctly – his brain merely testifies,
    as would his emotion, and desire to listen again to the unfamiliar piece that struck his fancy.

    posted by Lora on 11-18-2009 at 11:16 am

  4. I am a dancer, not a mathematician or a Dr., and I love Mozart and Bach, I think January should be a univeral holiday to celebrate Mozart’s birthday, and I dislike Beethovan. I now know that my preferences are consistent!

    posted by Pat Jstone on 11-18-2009 at 10:01 pm

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